Calm Sands

[Ughad]

[member="Tai Fa"]

The dust had settled upon the surprisingly whole remains of the former pirate lord's hideout. The wealth accumulated still surprisingly intact. Kadri himself sat upon the former lord' 'throne' if that's what it could be called. Not much different than a commander's chair. Just without the technology used to issue commands to a fleet. The seat itself was a little too hard for the old man's liking though. Hopefully he wouldn't be using this chair too much longer.

the former sole-claimant of this planet, the bird as Kadri preferred to call him for now, had agreed to meet with him here to discuss matters regarding....well... something he forgot about already, probably matters of state or business. He would have to wait for the bird to make the first moves in this conversation. He didn't know this bird at all, despite the fact that it apparently heard of him before. He would have to ask and answer questions as they came.

It had been a been about a day or more since the two participants here had last talked, what blood was spilt was still fresh, if only a bit dry. The area smelled of burning fuel and the dust of rubble in the air. Newly-made slaves being forced about in cuffs as soldiers determined what they would be doing for the rest of their short lives. The cries of a few unlucky could be heard throughout the building the former Executer occupied as those rebellious souls were being beat into submission.

The time was drawing near now. Kadri could almost feel it as that sith made its way towards his new domain.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Kadri Ughad"]

There was always the risk that a new player would not be reasonable.

Risk that they would not see things the way they actually were, instead of the way they wished to see it. The pirate enclave had been a drain of resources and useless in the grand scheme of things, but, they listened and saw reality for what it was. Would Ughad be the same? Or would his prior exalted state prove to be a detriment in a working relationship?

It would be interesting to see.

Lord Fa did not come alone, of course not. Behind him were Vigor Troopers and the Golden Guard. They would not enter the compound itself, opting to stay behind in the courtyard and outside and presumably there were more waiting elsewhere. There were probably also fighters waiting, bombers, interceptors and maybe even another few surprises.

He had been here for a long time, enough time to consolidate power, while Ughad must have been bleeding resources ever since the 'good old days'.

Finally then, the Sith arrived in the throne room, ignoring his escort of Ughad's men, opting patiently study the man himself. Still armored, currently occupying the crappy throne of a would-be pirate king.

Amusing.

"I see you are making yourself comfortable." The Sith observed.

 

[Ughad]

"Why yes of course, my friend. These past few days have been quite long, my men have been keeping themselves quite busy cleaning the debris left from our attack, and I myself have been doing little else than planning for what is to come."

The bird wasn't wrong on their assumption. The Vanguard fleet was a joke compared to what it once was, several of the ships running on skeleton crews. The old admiral was somewhat worried that the bird would be able to wipe him out without a second thought. These were Sith after all.

"Please, excuse the escord, Fa. But you must understand the dangers of leaving oneself unguarded."

Kadri took a period of silence to take a good look at the bird. For what he could tell it had the same evil look in its eye that all sith he had known had. It was also dressed a little too aristocratically for his own tastes. With a wave of his hand, the two Gulandi soldiers would back off from Fa and stood guard by the entrance door. The Umbaran leaned back in the former pirate lord's chair, resting his elbow such that his forearm was perpendicular to the chair's arm. He made subtle motions with his hand as he talked once more

"Seeing as you didn't stop me from destroying your henchmen, do you then see more use in me? In order to remain must I do something in return?"


[member="Tai Fa"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Kadri Ughad"]

"I do." Yet, Ughad would notice that Lord Fa did leave his personal guard behind. The Thirriken wondered if Kadri realized that this had little to do with his request and more to do with underlining a message.

One where even alone and surrounded by enemy warriors, Lord Fa did not feel threatened at all.

Perhaps this was Sith arrogance or perhaps Tai knew something that Kadri did not. This was always the risk when dealing with Sith, especially those who were well-entrenched and had their power consolidated over many years. Maybe it was simple madness and hubris, or maybe there was more at play here.

"I do." He repeated once again. "In my experience henchmen are only valuable when they pull their weight."

"I controlled them, yet, they were not effective enough to my taste."

The space peacock cocked his head slightly, before giving a light shrug. It was still to be determined if this one would be more effective and useful for his operations, but while Lord Fa was believed in caution, he also believed that sometimes you simply needed to take a chance and see what happened.

What do you have to do in return?

"My friend, you destroyed my people and I let you do this, because, yes, I see more use in you. What do you think that means for you?"

 

[Ughad]

"There's something about all Sith that I don't like, Fa. You all have this air about you.... Like you want to kill the nearest person within a moment's notice."

The old man coughed several times behind his mask. It was bad enough that one could even say that it sounded like the voice of a sith lord's force ghost calling their name. Kadri took several deep breaths before he would speak again

"If you're wanting for a new asset, I... *ACK* am not really in a position to decline. All I wish for is to remain here to rebuild my legacy and pride before I eventually pass, if I'm going to be completely honest." He said this as he leaned forward and put his hands together. As he finished he would seem to regain his composure in a sense as he straightened his back and rested his arms on those of the chair he sat on.

"I will admit that I am anxious for what you would have my men do for you. For all I know you could send them into a battle that would lead to their deaths. But you sound like you're a man that would much rather keep their henchman alive. Truthfully I would rather the both of us work together, rather than one for the other, to forward our interests on this ball of dust."


[member="Tai Fa"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Kadri Ughad"]

The Thirriken cocked his head for a moment.

Perhaps it was surprise, amusement or a combination of both, but Fa never truly saw himself as the usual Sith. Constantly thirsting for the shedding of blood and the kill, that wasn't his style. Seemed like a waste to him, when there were better options out there. No, the only times he truly raised his blade or ordered kills, was when there weren't really any alternatives left to him. In his experience that made for better progress.

"You misunderstand desire with ability, Ughad." Lord Fa pointed out gently, before shrugging. "I have no qualms with it, you are correct, but I would rather have a living asset... or partner."

"As for what I would desire from your men, you are correct there. I do not send them to their deaths- too expensive, a waste, no profit in it. Suffice it to say, that I will conserve their lives even more than you would."

Not out of a misplaced desire to be liked or even a moral sense of wrong to do otherwise. But simply because the equation would not make sense, to invest in them on one hand and have them grinded to dust in the meat-grinder. They were far more of use to him in a living state.

 

[Ughad]

This bird was starting to annoy Kadri somewhat. It had been many months since the old man had to dance around with his words to someone else above him. Never did he think that he would have to do it again for some lowly Sith. In the past the Umbaran in the chair would have been the one making demands to a lower warlord to do his bidding. But that had all changed since the civil war. Now he was the one pandering.

"Lord Fa. Forgive my bluntness. But I wish to get as much done as I can in this meeting. I planned on clearing the pirates on this planets so that I could profit from the trade route myself. Your former henchmen have been captured and will be used as part of the slave labor I need further my plans: To build a city where my house and people can live and prosper. I don't know how you feel about mercantile gains, but I believe that the both of us have something to gain from this. No?"

Kadri rose from his chair and began to walk towards the sith with his hands behind his back.

"Now before I let you run off with any of my soldiers, I need to know what you want to use them for. And if you feel so inclined, I would like to know your stance on my proposition."


[member="Tai Fa"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Kadri Ughad"]

I would caution you against this course of action.

The Thirriken would have responded- not the restoration of the planet, of course. That was actually quite the good idea that could truly bring them some kind of profit, one way or another, but no that was not the issue. The issue at hand was Kadri's annoyance and it disappointed Lord Fa greatly. It was quite difficult to find dependable henchmen who had an idea of their actual hierarchical position in the food chain.

But it seemed that the Umbaran was one of the arrogant ones.

Tai could work with that, of course, but threatening him wouldn't have the desired outcome. More than likely the older gentlebeing would double-down, stubbornly and fight to the death to regain some small measure of his pride.

Reputation was everything for some.

"I have no need of your men this instant." Lord Fa explained patiently. "But when I do call for you, I expect you to provide me with any assistance you can spare."

Head cocked slightly, before the bird inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"As for your proposal, I find myself in agreement. It is a good course of action and we can grow prosperous together."

 

[Ughad]

The bird never answered what Kadri wanted to know. What would he do with his men? Considering his position the former executor found it best not to question his new....superior's motives. That word in this context left a bad taste in Kadri's mouth. He would have to begin plotting the bird's downfall soon. Or, perhaps, this relationship would turn out to be better in the long run. Kadri would have to wait and see, if he even lived to see that happen.

"I find it well that you agree with me on one of those points. I would press you for more, but I would rather not sour this relationship any further. I give you my word that I will send you whatever aid I can at your behest." There was a forced tone behind the statement. But his word was his word.

The old man walked back to his chair and sat. He really wasn't sure why he had gotten up in the first place. Maybe he thought he could intimidate a sith? That was a foolish move on his part. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back.

"However, I was wondering. I assume that you would agree with me when I say that slaves are no longer as efficient as modern technology allows? I was wanting to know if you would be willing to spare a handful of industrial construction droids if, for some reason, you happened to have them. Or at least, point me in the right direction to purchase them myself at a later date."

[member="Tai Fa"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Kadri Ughad"]

Power came in many forms.

This much Lord Fa knew instinctively and from experience. When most powerful individuals were big, strong and overpowering, the Thirriken was small in stature and did not seem to be much of a threat. When he had first started this little journey of his, he had surrounded himself with strong individuals - Vnut of Garnib always just behind him as a constant reminder that there was muscle behind his operations.

But these days the Sith took a different path.

"I do not judge my associates for using slavery." Tai finally responded after pondering it for a little while. "But I always have had a personal distaste for it and utilize droids or paid labor for my projects and efforts."

A shrug followed.

"The droids work more efficiently and those who are paid for their trouble work better."

The following question surprised Lord Fa to a degree. The reputation of the Primeval was very well known, they were not good people - which he didn't truly mind, that would have been hypocritical - but they also had seemed to fall in the common trap of evil. When you started drinking your own medicine so much that simple pragmatism and rationality were lost to you.

Slavery was the least of the Primeval's sins.

"Yes, I could supply you with them, it will get the job done in far better fashion."

 

[Ughad]

There was a moment of awkward silence. For some reason Kadri felt that there should be....more to discuss, but yet he couldn't think of anything further to discuss. For this meeting at least. Perhaps he would think of more later. He waited a little while longer for the bird to to speak again and break it, but it seemed that the two were at a standstill.

"I believe that concludes our meeting then. Unless, of course, you have more that you wish to say." The old man shifted slightly in his chair. There was something about the shape that he was starting to find a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't really put his finger on it.

"I will send you the current planned city layout briefly so that you may assess how many droids you would be willing to send for this endeavor and I begin to determine how many forces I can spare for your own."

The umbaran gave a nod to the two soldiers guarding the door. One of them turned towards a keypad behind him. With a few button presses and a muffled clank, the deadbolts released, unlocking the door.

"I wish you a good day, Lord Fa."


[member="Tai Fa"]